Mechanical musical instrument



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c. 1L ARNO. Mechanical Musical Instrument.

No. 239.213. Patented March 22,1881.

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(No Model.) y 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. H. ARNO. Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. 239,213. Patented March 22,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER H. ARNO, OF WILMINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN AUTOMATIC ORGAN COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,213, dated March 22, 1881. Application filed August 25, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIVER II. ARNO, of Wilmington, in the county of Middlesex and State ot Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates toimprovements upon mechanical musical instruments in which a 1o perforated strip of paper caused to be moved through the instrument will, through suitable mechanism, operate valves, &c., of such instrument, by which reeds or other sounding devices will be sounded; and this invention t5 more particularly is to be used in connection with a mechanical musical instrument constructed as shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me, dated May 1S, 1880, and. numbered 227,714,

2o although it is applicable to other forms ot' such musical instruments.

The invention consists in a novel combination of devices, which are fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-` In Plate 1, Figure l is a vertical cross-section of a mechanical musical instrument constructed according to this invention. In Plate 2, Fig. 2 is a partial rear elevation and partial vertical sections on lines fr x and y y, re- 3o spectively, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the musical instrument and in partial section. In Plate 3, Fig. 4E is a detail view in elevation; Fig. 5, a detail plan view of the perforated strip of paper and partial section of other parts; Fig. 6, a detached vertical sectional view of one ot' the air-comluctors and its connection with the bellows and the windcl1est; Fig. 7, a plan view ofthe bellows, with the framework iu cross-section Fig. 8,

4o a longitudinal vertical section of the bellows and its feeders or exhausters on line z z, Fig.

7 5 Fig. 9, a vertical cross-section of the bellows on line w w, Fig. 7; and Fig. l0, an end view of the bellows.

In the drawings, A A represent upright end frames, on which are supported and carried the various parts making the musical instrument.

B is the wind-chest, extending from one 5o frame to the other and secured thereto.

C is the reed-chamber to the reed C', and

D its valve. This valve D is arranged to slide horizontally in a groove, ,in the rail D', back and forth over the opening b to the reed-chainber C.

E is a lever, pivoted at c to the board E', front of reed-chamber, on which pivot it tilts or swings vertically. The upper end, d, of this lever E engages with the front end of the valve D at d, so that swinging the lever back and 6o forth on its fulcrum c correspondingly slides the valve D and opens and closes the reedchamber C.

F and F' are t-wo L-shaped levers, pivoted at cingroovesfin thehorizontal board G, adapted to Swingin a vertical plane, their upright parts being guided in grooves f in a rail, G'. These levers F and F' in their movements act alternately, by their upper ends, g and g', on the tilting lever E, and through said tiltinglever 7o the valve D is caused to slide back and forth over the opening b ofthe reed-chamber C, and the movements of these levers F F to open and close the valve D through the tilting lever E vare controlled for such operations by the perforated and unperiorated portions of the paper strip I-I. This perforated strip of paper H is provided for each valve, with its two levers F and F', with two parallel rows,

It and It', of pert'orations, all of which perfora- 8o tions are of a uniform length, one, L, of which rows ot' perforations is for the opening of the valve D through the lever F, and the other,

7i', for closing the same valve through the lever F', these rows of perforations being in line 85 with the twoA levers F and F'. When one of the perforations in the row 7L of the strip of paper comes under the V-shaped projection l of lever F, with which it isin line, the projection drops into the perforation, the lever F is 9o swung by the pull of a spiral spring, m, attached to its arm h, such movement opening the valve through the tilting lever E, when the reed can sound, and as a perforation in the other row, lr, comes under the V-shaped projec- 9 5 tion Z of the other lever, F', it drops into such perforation and correspondingly closes the valve, each lever, after performing its work, at once returning to its normal position, the perforations being of a length only necessary to roo open or close the valve.

So far the several parts hereinabove described are substantially as shown and described in the Letters Patent above referred to, exeeptin g they are arranged in different positions relatively to each other.

Inserted in the rail D' above the valve D is a piece of felt, o, or other elastic material, which presses on the valve D to keep it to its seat over the reed-chamber.

A bar, J, divides the upper end of reedchamber G into two openings, one, b, of which is closed by the valve D, and the other, p, by a board, J', hinged to the top of the windchest B, and held rmly to its position over the opening p in any suitable manner, so air will not enter into or escape from the reedchamber C through such opening. This opening p is to enable the reed-chamber to be reached to remove or insert the reeds, the raising of the board J' allowing of such operation.

K is the bed or raeeway. This bed or raceway K is in a horizontal position, and extends the width of the instrument from one frame to the other, to which it is pivoted by arms L at q. On this bed or raceway, in the operation of the instrument, travels and is guided the perforated strip of paper. The arms L extend along the bed K, and at the ends of the bed K, along its width, project a slight distance above the top surface ofthe bed, as at r, and lie in groovessintheboard G, to which the levers F and F' are pivoted. At the front end of each of these arms L, under the bed K, is a horizontal slot, t, in which is arranged to move a crank arm or rod, M, extending across the width of the bed K, and pivoted to the front of each frame A at u. The bed K, when in position for the operation of the instrument, by its front end rests on this crank arm or rod M. Swinging this crank-arm down carries with it, through the slot-connection t, the front end of the bed K into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. Swinging the crank up raises the bed or raeeway to its horizontal position, where it is secured in any proper manner for the proper guidance of the perforated paper strip in its movements through the instrument.

N represents upright extensions of the arms L, which are connected together by rod N'.

O and O' are two feed-rolls for feeding the perforated paper strip through the instrument, the lower one, O, of which turns in bearings in the back of the frames AfA, and the upper one, O', in bearings in the vertical and independent frame P, hung by slots fv to a rod, fv', extending from one frame, A, to the other.

Two spring-arms, Q, hung to rod N' of bed or raceway K, extend toward, and by their free ends w, which are of hook form, hook over and bear upon, the rod Q', to hold the vertical 'rame P to the proper position for the feed-roll O' to bear upon the lower feed-roll, O, suitable pressure being given to the springarms Q, by a pin, w, properly located for such purpose in the frames A and A'. The slots o in the frame allow of sufficient yielding movement to the feed-roller O' as the paper strip is fed through the instrument. A pin, x', under each spring-arm Q, prevents its falling if the frame P is swung up and away from its connections.

To insert the paper strip, swing down the bed K, as described, which carries with it the spring-arms Q, releasing their hold on the roller-frame P, which then can be swung up, all as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The paper can then be placed in at the front of the instrument and moved back until its end is over the feed-roll O, the cross-rod N', from its position when the bed is down in relation to the projections lof levers F F', preventing any interference between the paper strip and said V-shaped projections of the levers. rlhen, swinging down the frame F and raising the bed K by its crank-arm M, the several parts are secured in place and the paper strip is in position for the operation of the instrument. By reversing these movements the paper strip can be removed.

R is the bellows, and S S' its feeders or exhausters, which are constructed as usual, except so far as relates to the present improvements thereon. These feeders or exhausters S and S' are each made double-that is, each has an upper chamber, T, and a lower chamber, T', separated by the moving or the usual lifting-board, U, which is adapted to move up and down in the usual manner in feeders or exhausters for bellows. In this ar 1angement of the lifting-board having a chamber above and below it, as shown, the lifting-board U operates to exhaust the bellows through its downward as well as its upward movement, whereas, as heretofore with a feeder having only one chamber, the lifting-board only operated to exhaust the bellows in one of its movements.

The operation of the feeders to exhaust the bellows is as follows: As the lifting-board moves up, the air in the upper chamber, T, is forced out through a series of openings, a', in the end of the stationary board B' over the feeder, a valve, b', preventing its escape through openings m' into the bellows-chamber B2. At the same time air passes into the lower chamber, T', from the bellows chamber B2, through a series of passages, c', arranged in the middle upright board, H', and bottom board, H2, a valve, e', in chamber T' allowing such passage, and a valve, 7L', over a series of openings, j, in board H2 preventing air from the outside passing into the lower chamber, T'. The downward movement of the liftingboard forces the air in the lower chamber, T', out through thel series of openings j in the board H2, the valve e' preventing air passing from chamber T' through the passages c' to the bellows-chamber B2. At the same time air is passing from the bellows-chamber B2 through the series of openings m' in the board B' into IOO IIO

the upper chamber, T, the valve n over opening a' in the board B prevcntin g air from entering the upper chamber, T, from the outside, and so on, each movement of thelifting-boa-rd U, either up or down, serving, through the several connecting air-passages and openings, to properly exhaust the bellows.

rlhe operation ofthe other feeder is similar.

Each lifting-board U, at its end, is connected by a separate pitman-rod, V, to a separate crank-arm, V', on a common shaft, W, which crank-arms project from such shaft at right angles to each other. rlhe shaft WV, to which tl'1e1'tman-rods V are connected, has on its end a gear-wheel, W', which engages in another gear-wheel, W2, on the lower feed-roller shaft, O2, which shaft 02 is the driving-shaft, to be turned by the crank-arm O3, or iu any suitable manner. O2 revolves the feedrollers, which draws the perforated strip through the instrument, operates the bellows through the pitman-rod connection to feeders, and with the perforations in the paper strip properly arranged therefor a tune will be played by the instrument. rlhe pitman-rods are connected to the shaft XV and the staples p' in lifting-board U by a springjoint for a ready attachment and detachment of the same. Each rod is in two parts, g' and q2, one, q', of which is made in hook form, to hook over the crank-arm V' or staple p', and the other part, q2, which is a spring, bears by its free end r' against said crank-arm V' or staple p', and holds its hook to its connection. Raise the springI from its bearing and the pitman-rod can be readily detached from its crankarm or staple and as readily attached thereto. NVith these double-acting lifting-boards attached to the crank-arms V', respectively, of shaft at right angles to each other, the bellows is exhausted at every quarter-turn of the shaft WV, and to accomplish these results by feeders with single-acting boards, as heretofore used, would require four feeders with as many liftingboards, pitman-rods, and crankarms. This double action of each liftingboard U is important, as the feeders can be made smaller, taking up less room in the instrument, besides operating with a less number of connecting pitman-rods, crank-arms, Ste.

P' and P2 are airpassages arranged vertically within each frame A at each end ofthe instrument, their lower ends connecting, by a passage, s', in the stationary board B', with the bellowschamber B2, and their upper ends with the wind-chestlB. These air-passages P' and P2 are for the passage of air from the windchest to the bellows-chamber in the operation of the instrument.

In the construction ot' the instrument the several parts can-be duplicated as desired for the compass of the instrument-that is, the Valves, reeds, reedchambers, levers to operate the valves, the various levers having their proper grooves and pivotal joints and each valve its groove in the board and its elastic Turning this drivingshaft cushion-and more feeders can be added tothe bellows.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent the front and rear elevation views of an instrument having a series of reeds, valves, levers, Sac.

The frame A A', with all the parts of the instrument herein shown and described, can be set in a casing surrounding the whole,w`nich will protect the various parts from injury, and which can be ornamented eXteriorly, as desired, openings being left for the perforated sheet of paper to pass through the instrument and for the proper turning of the driving-shaft.

Locating the operating mechanism ofthe instrument, as described, on one side of the perforated paper strip enables all the parts to be easily reached for repairs or for any purpose desired without disturbing the rest of the instrument, making the same more compact.

llhe bed or raceway can be arranged to have its rear end swung down instead ot' its front end; but as described is preferable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In ameehanical musical instrumentadapt ed to be operated by a traveling perforated mnsicsheet, the combination of a bellows, the mechanism for operating the valves of the reed-cham ber, arranged above said bellows and separated therefrom by an intervening space, and a bed or raceway for the music-sheet, arranged intermediate the bellows and the reedchamber and pivoted or hinged at one end, whereby it lnay swing downward through the space between the bellows and reed-chamber, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument adapted to be operated by aperforated sheet of material, a bed or raceway for said sheet arranged below the reed and valve chambers of the instrument and hinged or pivoted at one end, substantially as described, whereby it may be swung downward from the reed and valve chambers independent ot' the bellows for the ready introduction of the music-sheet, as set forth.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with a bed or raceway for perforated music-sheet, pivoted or hinged at one end to the frame ot the instrument, and provided at the other end with a slot or slots, t, of a swinging crank, M, for engaging' and disengaging said slot or slots, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, a bed or raceway on which a perforated sheet of paper travels, hung to the frame A A', and arranged to be swung down at one end, the crossrod N' being attached thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the feed-roller O, of a frame, P, provided at its lower end with the feedroller O', and having at its upper end the IOO IOS

IIO

ITS

elongated slots c, through which passes a rod, c', rigidly connected to the frame ot' the instrument, said frame being capable of swinging outward and upward on Vthe rod o', substantiallyv as and for the purpose described.

6. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination,with the frame P, provided at its lower end with a feed-roller and at its upper end with a slot, e", through which passes a rod, e', rigidly attached to the frame ot' the instrument, of the spring-arms Q, constructed toengage said ti'aineP when in its normal vertical position, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a mechanical musical instrument, in combination with a bed or raeeway on which a perforated strip of paper travels, hung to frame A A', and arranged to be swung down, the spring-arms Q, hung thereto and arranged to bear upon the frame P, carrying the feedroller O', by the pin .Mall substantially as and t'or the purpose specified.

8. A feeder, S, to a bellows, provided with two chambers, T and T', separated by the litting-board, the movements ot' which operate alternately through said chambers to exhaust the bellows.

9. In combination with a bellows, R, one or more feeders provided with two chambers, T and T', separated by a lifting-board, the movementsotl which operate to exhaust the bellows through the openings m' between upper chamber, T, ot' the feeder and the bellows, and the openings and air-passages c' and c' between v the lower chamber, T', and the bellows It, all

arranged substantially as and t'or the purpose specified.

10. The combination, with a bellows, ot a feeder, one or more, provided with two chambers, T T'. divided by the lifting-board U, the pitman-rods V, and crank-shaft W', all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

1l. In amechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the wind-chest and the bellows, ofthe air-passages 1)' p2, forming a cominunicating passage between the bellows and the wind-chest, which extends outside ot" and around the bed or raceway of the perforated sheet, as herein shown and described.

12. The combination, with the bellows and the crank-shaft,of the pitman-rods havingone 0r both ends made in two parts, Q' q2, substantially as and t'or the purpose described.

13. The reed-chamber C, provided with the transverse dividing-bar J,in col'nbination with the lifting-board J', resting at one edge on the bar, andthe sliding valve l), normally having a bearing at one edge on the said bar, the latter forming a closing-point between the valve and board, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. The rail D', havingone. or more grooves, a, in combination with the slide-valves, arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

15. In combination with a sliding valve, D, the elastic material o. arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I. haveI hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLIVER H. ARNO.

Witnesses EDWIN W. BROWN, WILLIAM S. BEL-Lows. 

